Taiwan Taipei Free And Easy Trip – Day 1

This is our first time to Taipei. Actually we do not know much about Taipei, although there are plenty of TV program to introduce Taiwan, the problem is we seldom watch TV program. Therefore, we have spent a lot time on internet to search for information about Taipei City, Places of Attraction & their history, Transportation on Metro, Train and Bus service & etc.

Taipei City is in the northern part of Taiwan island in a basin between the Yang Ming Mountains and the Central Mountains. The largest city of Taiwan, it serves as its financial and governmental center.

DAY 1

Haha.. Taipei, we are coming, yeah. 🙂

After 4 hours and 40 mins on the air (by Jestar Airway), we are arrived at Taiwan Tao Yuan International Airport Terminal I 台灣桃園國際机场第一航厦 at 6.30pm, after Custom clearance and pick-up our luggage, we straight away proceed to the Express Airport Bus ticket counter, located on the southwest side in the Arrival Passenger Reception Area. Public transport is very convenient and efficient in Taipei.

Welcome to Taiwan

If you landed at the Terminal II, the Express airport bus ticket counter is located on the northeast side in the Arrival Passenger Reception Area.

Adult single bus fares vary from NT$110 to $140 depending on the bus company, bus service available every ten to fifteen minutes on each route.

Bus Ticket from Airport to Taipei Main Station

We bought ticket at NT125 each from Kuo Kuang Bus Counter to Taipei Station 台北车站. We already have 2 Easy-cards 悠游卡 from Taiwan Tourism Bureau, the only thing we need to do upon arriving is to top up the value. The procedure is very simple, same as what we are doing in Singapore (Ez-link Card) or Hong Kong (Octopus Card).

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Easy Card from Taiwan Tourism Bureau for Travel on MRT and Buses.

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Taipei MRT Map

After about 45min bus ride, the bus stopped at outside Taipei Main Station 台北车站. After top up our Easy-card, we took MRT from Taipei Station and alight at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station Exit 5 中正紀念堂站, is only 2 stations away. Taipei Station is the Main Station in Taipei City, it’s provide MRT, Train, High Speed Train and Bus Services.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station – People Line up for MRT

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HOTEL

The hotel we choose is Wing Hotel 雲鼎商務旅店, only 3 mins walk from the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station. Price is reasonable, NT1,850 per night included breakfasts. Hotel will issue voucher each day for breakfast at 老田咖啡厅 (open daily from 7am to 12am) or Fast-food Restaurant (if you need to travel early in the morning).

Hotel Bedroom

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Hotel Room

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Big Bathtub

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After check-in, it’s already 8.30pm. We put down our luggage, after a quick shower we quickly go out to find foods, to have our first meal in Taipei. Our first itinerary in Taipei was to visit:

Shi Lin Night Market 士林夜市

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Main Road of Shilin Night Market

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MRT: Take Dansuei (Red) Line to Jian Tan Station 劍潭站Location: Around Wenlin Road 文林路 and Dadong Road 大東路Open: 4pm to Midnight daily

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Jian Tan Station

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Shilin Night Market very Crowded

To really taste the flavor of Taiwanese lifestyle a trip to a night market is a must, and Shilin ranks first among all the night markets in Taipei, a “must-see” attractions oh. It is widely regarded as having the widest range of products, the best tasting food, the biggest crowds and the most convenient transportation, just opposite the Jian Tan MRT Station.

Shilin Night Market, with shops selling almost everything.

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Their Business Stall ( illegal push cart, can close shop in 3 seconds, we saw their super fast action once enforcement staff is detected by them )

We had our dinner in the food court, located directly across the street from the station.

Thanks for visiting.
We get the easy card from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau during their Promotion in Singapore. You can buy the Easy card from any MRT station in Taiwan. We book the hotel through internet http://www.winghotel.com.tw

Hi there! Thank you so much for these informations. 🙂 Me and my husband are planning on a free and easy trip for honeymoon. But the problem is, we both are not chinese-language educated. Will it be a problem for us to go on a free and easy trip?

Hi, Thanks for visiting. You will do just fine. Don’t worry they are very friendly people and are able to speak simple English. Most of the tourist spots have tourist information counter. Enjoy your trip. Cheers.

Hi.
Thank you for liking my post. I also liked the pictures of Taiwan. I was in Malaysia about 3weeks ago, my first time in Asia and I would love to visit other places in Asia so your pictures really helped.
Rolain.

We email and call to confirm the room reservation. We pay during the time of check-in to Wing Hotel.
For Sun Moon Lake, we are rented a car plus driver from Taipei > Tao Yuan > Taichung > Qing Jing> Hua Lien > Jiu Fen > Taipei. Unless you want to have a try on the High Speed Train, not cheap also.